Quality of Life among elderly living in Catalonia, Spain
Ramona Lucas Carrasco, Institut de l'Envelliment., Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Jaume March Llanes, Medicina, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain, Antoni Salva Casanovas, Institut de l'Envelliment, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Aims: Our aim was to investigate Quality of Life (QoL) and variables associated with good/very good perception of QoL among community dwelling elderly people in Catalonia, Spain.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study on a random sample of 2.500 elderly people (65 and older) living in the community in Catalonia. Participants completed a face to face interview which contained sociodemographic information; health perception and comorbidity; activities of daily living (ADL), depressive symptoms (GDS-15) and cognition (Pfeiffer Test); caregiver status, use of services, and perception of financial situation. QoL was measured with the WHOQOL-BREF (which contains 4 domains: physical, psychological, social relationships and environment) and the WHOQOL-OLD. All participants signed the inform consent form.

Results: Mean age was 74.4 y.o.; 58.4% were women and 59% had primary school. One quarter of the sample were living alone. More people considered themselves as healthy and 61% rated their health as good/very good/excellent. Mean number of comorbidities was 4.3. Women scored lower than men in all WHOQOL-BREF domains, being significantly lower in all, except on social relationships. QoL decreased in all domains as age increased. Those with higher education, having somebody in case of need, being satisfied with health, and perceiving better economic situation had better QoL. While those who had lower qualified jobs; feeling unhealthy; reporting higher comorbidity, depressive symptoms, disability and impaired cognition; being a caregiver and living in a rented place reported worst QoL. On the regression analysis, older people, those who had lower qualified jobs, reporting more comorbidities, more depressive symptoms and disability, those who smoke and drink heavily, and caregivers had worst Quality of Life

Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first QoL study using the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD in a such a big random elderly population. QoL does not differ significantly from most of the Centres involved in the development of the WHOQOL-OLD Project.